Ways to Cutback on Your Wedding Costs

 

No one likes to start eliminating things from their dream wedding. That’s one of the things I like least about my job. But unfortunately, if you are trying to stay within a budget cutting back is a reality.

There are easy ways to cut back on your wedding celebration. Knocking off some of the extras add up. Here are some suggestions:

• Eliminate favors and maybe offer a chocolate on the way out.
• If you have upgraded your rentals go to back to a basic rental package.
• Cut back the size of your centerpieces and bouquets.
• Remove extra flowers from the ceremony. Spend your money on the reception.
• Serve beer and wine instead of open bar.
• Choose one entrée per guest instead of two.
• Eliminate one appetizer selection and offer a cheese course instead.

DON’T cut back in these ways:
• Ask a friend to be your photographer. I did that with my wedding many years ago. Not a good choice on my part. I didn’t get the photos I wanted and ended up resenting the guy who took them.
• Make your own centerpieces. You don’t have the time! I’ve heard so many brides say, “I’ll just make my centerpieces.” You don’t have the time on the wedding day to make sure the flowers look good when a makeup artist and hair dresser are trying to make you look good. Leave the flowers to the experts and save your creativity for your honeymoon scrapbook.

• Eliminate the DJ or Band. I know the IPOD is great for mixing music and I’m sure your husband thinks he could put together the perfect play list that would have everyone dancing until 2am but the reality is he can’t factor in the mood of the crowd. A band or DJ will keep people moving and will make your party a success if played right. Your husband or friend should be having fun at the wedding instead of working it.

Those are some of the most obvious things I hear from my clients but here is one that is almost always my client’s last choice but the biggest dollar amount to eliminate. Cut your guest list! I know you don’t want to do it, I know your family will complain but if you want to save a lot of money and possibly have a better wedding to boot I have a simple answer, cut 10 people off the list. To prove my point, here’s a simple calculation on a very basic wedding. You can inflate or deflate the numbers as you see fit.

Each table of 10 costs approximately $1000. This includes one $150 centerpiece, ten $50 meals and approximately $15 worth of drinks per person. Basic China, white linens and basic glassware for this table $100. Favors $80, place cards $20.

So as you can see $1000 is a lot of money when you are trying to cut back and could make a big difference in the bottom line. So instead of making your own centerpieces cut some people off of your list.

So I guess you are probably asking how? How do I cut people off my list? I know family members are difficult to cut even if you haven’t seen them since you were 5 years old. Here’s a trick I tell my clients, invite the friends you have talked to in the last year. Believe it or not this can cut your list greatly and you end up inviting just your closest friends and in turn having a more intimate wedding. 

Comments

[Kelly @ Socialize]

Great advice on all counts! A friend of mine used the following guideline for her guest list - if she wouldn't feel comfortable hugging them; they didn't make the cut!

[Margaret River wedding photographer]

That was just a great list to look upon for a perfect wedding cutbacks. I bet following this guidelines would really make a difference to what is normally expected for the event.

[Kindra Leomiti]

You are right about spending less on flowers for the ceremony and instead spending more on the reception. Doing so gives you more leeway by way of choosing the menu for the reception. Make your wedding more meaningful by sharing it with the people you love.